For a decade, I thought I was doing everything right. I had a few corporate jobs, a predictable salary, and a career path that looked good on paper. From the outside, it probably seemed like I had things figured out.
But behind the scenes, I was constantly exhausted, and the work never really stopped. Even after logging off my work email and putting my work phone down, I was still thinking about deadlines, emails, and expectations. Over time, that pressure built into something I couldn't ignore anymore.
I remember realizing that no matter how much effort I put in, the work didn't feel tangible. I was stuck in a loop. I needed a dramatic change.
A side project with my mom sparked a change
To scratch the initial itch, I purchased my first home in June 2020 and was planning to obtain a construction loan. However, when I spoke with my mom about it, she agreed I didn't need to take on the burden and said she'd partner with me 50/50 on this side project.
Little did I know back then that this side project would turn into our mother-son business years later.
We added nearly 1,200 sq. ft., successfully sold the house in February 2023, and I finally felt the tangible satisfaction of doing my own project. This led to the purchase of our second home in June 2023.
Eventually, though, the burnout caught up with me. Working a full-time job and managing the pre-construction of a 3,400 sq. ft. project was too much. Around that time, my mom and I started talking more seriously about our partnership and plans for the future.
Yes, a steady paycheck was nice, but the live-to-work motto she drilled into me as I was growing up wasn't working. My work-life balance was awful, and my stress and patience levels were wearing thin.
A wellness retreat finally pushed me to take the leap
Toward the end of 2024, I booked a retreat at the legendary health and wellness resort The Golden Door to disconnect and clear my mind. While the intention wasn't to make a drastic change, that is exactly what happened.
At the retreat, I met two successful CEOs in their 60s who kept instilling in me that what I saw as a massive risk wasn't actually such. I always had the idea of working on my own, but I was too scared to do it.
"Bet on yourself. Success is driven by those who make bold decisions," they kept saying.
I took that advice home, spoke with my mom, and while she was initially against the idea, she said OK. Seeing me struggle for meaning and happiness, I think, swayed her to agree with my decision.
JAREST, LLC was formed soon after, and there was no looking back.
We butt heads constantly over budgets and design
The adjustment was immediate. Time and routine changed like the wind, and processes and hierarchies were not established, and egos clashed.
Both stubborn and smart, we butted heads constantly about design, decisions, and budget. While I'm primarily driven by financial considerations, she (thankfully) is better at understanding where to spend money to improve the product.
This led to a lot of disagreements in the middle of the second project. I was against spending an extra $15,000 on floating stairs or a double-wide Sub-Zero fridge/freezer that other houses in our price range didn't have.
After a few yelling matches over dinner, she won (she normally does, especially when she's cooking). The decision was made, and we pressed on. Even though the contingency budget was down to $0, and I knew other unknowns would pop up, we proceeded.
Finding our rhythm
Over time, though, I started to notice something. Every time we clashed, the final decision was stronger.
If I pushed too hard on cutting costs, she would point out long-term benefits I hadn't considered. If she wanted to over-improve a property, I would bring us back to what I thought actually made sense financially.
We sold that house in March 2026 and are now starting our most ambitious project in Beverly Hills, with an anticipated completion in Spring 2027.
Thanks to my mom's guidance, financial support, and a bit of yelling, a dream from childhood, growing up in an apartment in Westwood, is coming true. While I won't be living in a Beverly Hills mansion, at least I can say I built one!
It took a while, but that raw tension (oh, it's still there, trust me, just not as fervent) became a strength.
